2026 No Buy

[Eatingmusselsfromashell]

I am planning a strict 2026 clothes no buy. I’ve tried in the past but the maximum I achieved was 3 months or so.
I’m sick of the cycle of seeing/ wanting / buying. I want to couple my No Buy with some other habit changes. I would like to limit screen time to one hour a day (except when listening to podcasts/ books and language learning). This is the year to brush up my Spanish and German for trips later in the year. I am annoyed at the hours of life I have wasted scrolling online sites.
I’ve tidied wardrobe in preparation and am ebaying / charity shopping anything which isn’t currently working for me.
Anyone else want to join me for moral support?

Hello, all.

Been following for a few days and have done the usual (been almost swayed by the '9 free samples' from Clarins)

I thought "Ooh, the 12 day advent calendar is a bargain" Yes, I use the Beauty Flash Balm (or whatever its called these days) but I have 4 tubes already. I also almost succumbed to the White Company emails of 'Extra 10% off ends tonight'.

And it goes on. Temptation at every corner. And every time, I think "Ooh, bargain!" I don't need any more. I don't have space for any more. And I don't even use the stuff I've got.

I bought three Beauty Advent Calendars. I didn't open any of them in December. Partly because I was poorly, and partly because (and I know this now) it is all about the acquisition for me. I've opened M&S and largely thought What The Hell Was I Thinking? And also the same for Anthropologie. I did keep Glossybox for January and am enjoying opening it, and have found some nice bits. I guess it proves that one is enough.

I have ADHD (diagnosed) so I know I'm impulsive and I know it is all about the acquisition. I'm now finally getting to grips with the true level of my addiction (bearing in mind, I previously thought I was fully aware, ans was in control of this) It is a lifelong learning curve.

I have slipped slightly. New walking boots but with a blue light discount to replace ones which are split at the sole. New bedding for what will be the spare room when the boy moves to his flat and a dehumidifier for that room which has condensation and mould growing around the window. Cleaned but to prevent it happening again. Other than food that s it but I don’t need anything else at all. I did go to the shops rather than online shopping.

Im managing to hold the line so far! I did have a sneaky look on Vinted but quickly realised that everything I liked I pretty much already had some version of.
I think it helps that I'm concentrating on diet and exercise at the moment as it gives me a focus other then spending.

I cracked and bought the hat I wanted, but it arrived yesterday and I love it (and it isn't like anything else I have). That is definitely the end of it though; I've just had to pay for my new glasses and my lenses alone are over £500 😖

To atone for this I went to a gallery today (in my hat) and walked there and back instead of getting the bus, plus I made do with water in the Members Room rather than spending on coffee (which would likely have meant cake too). I've already made a note to take my own in a thermal cup next time .

I bought DH a coat. He needed something warm and waterproof, so I got him one from the Barbour sale with £100 off.

I also replaced my Rodial liquid bronzer.

So I bought my first thing this year, 4 pairs of knee length socks, but I do really need them. Last bought Feb 24.
I have cancelled Amazon prime and deleted the app. Anything that I see that I like I am screenshot ting and keeping for my birthday.

Gah, bought a Wyse cashmere jumper on Vinted. Bargain and lovely but not something I really need. i need to set a screen limit for Vinted I think….
i read an email from Wearsmymoney about wardrobe classics, went looking for Wyse cashmere on Vinted, bought it before you know it.

Still doing good and I have not bought things I don't need bit I purchased mindfulness/meditations course. I actually feel I need it as I need more calm in my life this year and another pair of shoes our perfume I don't need won't bring me what I really need.

I have not bought any unnecessary stuff and pleased with that

We actually cancelled Amazon prime this time last year and it made a huge difference to our wasteful spending over the year.

Im not claiming to be the thread police but 20 -25 items a year is quite a lot. On average you’d be buying something every other week. I’m not sure it fits very well with the spirit of this thread where people seem to be finding it hard to step away from the constant pressure to look at and buy clothes.
Might I very politely ask whether you should start your own thread for those who want to discuss their purchases?

I’m doing fine, managed not to buy anything yesterday evening and sold two quite nice things on Vinted yesterday so I have now the local equivalent of £120 pending. I ran like a wind to the post office first thing this morning.

I haven’t unsubscribed from any marketing emails so far. I felt that I got so many that I am totally immune to all the noise but yesterday I got three emails from small businesses I really like and I now have three things on my wishlist 🤦‍♀️.

@LivingDeadGirlUK did you miss Amazon Prime at all ? I'm basically the account for the whole family which I'm happy to do but we don't use the Prime video really and we could all just take out a free month in December if needed

To be fair to PP, a lot of the posters on this thread seem to be spending a lot for a 'no buy' thread..!

There's a slow buy/full size repurchase beauty thread. It might be worth someone setting one up for all S&B spends. Slow and considered spending is more aspirational IMO than a blanket ban. No buy would encourage me to focus on what I'm trying to resist, which tbh seems to be how this thread is going and it's only day 12.

Absolutely. I wasn’t trying to single out the PP as you say theres room for a variety of low buys to co exist. It just seemed to me that that level of purchasing was medium to high. It’s what I am trying to reduce down from myself.

I’m resisting. I was really taken by the poster who suggested deleting Vinted. I’ve booked a charity collection and this evening am going to sort through my Vinted pile (it has its own wardrobe in the garage) and will either donate to the collection or keep to wear. My plan is to book a monthly collection and if I don’t wear/ read etc, it’s going to charity. I’m in a relatively privileged position to do this. The Vinted money would be brilliant to have but I end up spending the Vinted credit instead of transferring it so am going to go for a clean break.

I'm loving all these inspiring posts about reading more, and doing crafty stuff to keep our hands busy.

The poster who made the analogy with stoping smoking isn't wrong - I feel like there is an addiction in play here. The Allan Carr stoping smoking book makes a fabulous point about changing behaviour and the use of language. So instead of saying "giving up" catch yourself and say "stopping" or "reducing". "Giving up" is emotive and implies that you are losing something, or somehow suffering a detraiment, and reframing this claims a bit of power & choice in the situation. We are not "giving up buying stuff" but "becoming more assertive with spending choices" or "making more informed/planned financial decisions" for example.

I did buy something - a really warm but lightweight jumper from a vintage shop £18. I am wearing it today & I expect it to be extensively worn over the next couple of months. So while I didn't desperately need it, I do wear warm jumpers a lot at this time of year and it will be well worn for sure. Its mohair & angora so very thin & light but very warm so a great layering piece.

With clothing I'm on a "buy nothing new" so my "rules" allow for the odd 2nd hand clothing purchase.

I almost bought a book on local circular walks this morning when at the PO - again this is something I would like to buy and will use. But I don't need it now and I have put it on my amazon wishlist instead of buying it.

I have cancelled Apple TV

@RobinEllacotStrike I have read that book when I tried to quit smoking. I huffed and puffed through it like Thomas the Tank Engine, it did absolutely nothing for me. A couple of years later I had some kind of watershed moment, just woke up and thought about myself as a non-smoker. I still don’t know how this happened.

I really hope this can happen with my clothing purchases, I have no other choice actually - I made a conscious decision to take a longer mat leave and it can’t be reversed. I absolutely don’t regret that. But it used to be the time of the year when I would browse Johnstons of Elgin sale and this year I have to budget for a cup of coffee at the local grocery store! I had one today as I waited for a GP appointment and it felt so good 😊

I have a small win to report! Finished a large jumper yesterday, I worked on it over Christmas. I did buy the pattern and the yarn back in December but the jumper is my own handwork☺️.

I have just added it to my wardrobe app.

That is beautiful CortieTat. It's unique and will go with lots of different colours. I wish I had the patience to get into knitting.

I am struggling with the dilemma of whether to cancel amazon prime. I have recently cancelled all my subscribe and save. Initially because my payments kept getting rejected but also I realised I was buying too much that I couldn't keep track that all payments were going through correctly.

There are certain things I buy on amazon and find that the cheapest way eg particular protein powder and face creams but they are only monthly purchases and I do keep an eye on 99p kindle books.

But I do listen to amazon music and podcasts (I work outside so listen a lot).

So all bundled up including prime video I don't know if I would miss it. I think amazon music and the 99p books are the bits I would miss most.

Also amazon isn't really the sort of place I do my impulse purchases so I don't know if I would gain much by cancelling.

@lostntranslation it’s a very good project to start with, big gauge, thick yarn, easy and forgiving pattern. I finished it three times in the last month and then kept upgrading 😅 till I was happy with the final result.

I would keep Prime if I were you. I have a different subscription for music and a Kobo reader so no prime but if I used it for more than one thing I think it would be sensible to keep it even just for the music 🎶

We cancelled it after seeing the smug billionaires all sat behind Trump at his inauguration ceremony. Only time I wished we still had it was 2 weeks before Christmas 🤣

I order skincare etc from boots or superdrug, toys and homeware from argos, protein powder from Holland and barret or just sainsburys. Not missed anything.

I think you might have inspired me into action. Every year I knit half a scarf, it's a bit of a running joke in my family. I strongly suspect I have ADHD and love special interests until I move onto the next one with the last one half finished.

I think that's why I struggle so much with the low spend, my impulsiveness gets the better of me.

I think you might be right about prime as its the clothes stores and luxury home/kitchen ware acessories I am vulnerable to. I don't think prime is a problem for me when i really think about it.

Love the jumper @CortieTat it is absolutely stunning.

Im in the garage with bags for life and my Vinted stash, taking stuff off Vinted and packing it for charity and shopping in my Vinted stash for things I might actually wear after all. I’m deleting Vinted this evening too.

Welcome @BurningTheToast, @D20, @BlueEyedBogWitch@Itsnouse, @MadameBethune, @Paetina, @Pigtailsandall@owlpassport@RainbowZebraWarriorand @PrincessofWellsLooking forward to sharing progress, resources and ideas at whatever level of low buy or no buy you are trying. Apologies if I ever inadvertently miss anyone - I appreciate everyone being here.

@CortieTatyour jumper looks fantastic. I wish I had that skill.

Waves to @lostntranslation,@RainbowZebraWarriorand other adhd folk on the thread. I have an adhd (adult) child and think the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.